Free Agent Notes: Upton, Cespedes, Kennedy, ChiSox, Cardinals

Few could’ve predicted that Justin Upton’s market would play out so slowly, writes ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick in a lengthy examination of Upton’s journey to the open market. Crasnick notes that Upton is somewhat a victim of borderline unreachable expectations, noting that some view him as a disappointment for being a considerably above-average outfielder as opposed to the generational talent that some hoped for when scouts began raving about him at age 14 and when some outlets compared him to Ken Griffey Jr. as a prospect. Crasnick spoke to executives and Upton’s former skipper, Fredi Gonzalez, with many heaping praise on the 28-year-old — Gonzalez in particular. “He’s been one of my favorite players that I’ve managed in my career,” said Gonzalez. “He shows up at the ballpark every day ready to play. He’s respectful. He knows the game. He’s a great teammate and clubhouse guy. … I’m very surprised that he’s still out there. I think there are a lot of teams missing the boat on him. I really do.” Crasnick also spoke to execs about Upton’s defense, examined his perceived attitude problems as a prospect and also spoke to some in the industry about the potential difficulty of watching his brother struggle alongside him with the Braves and the Padres.

A few more notes on the free-agent market…

While many (myself included) have speculated that Chris Davis is holding up the market, to an extent, for the remaining corner bats, ESPN’s Jayson Stark believes that Yoenis Cespedes is holding up the market more than Davis at this point (Twitter link). Some of the slow-moving market for top bats is unrelated to either player, he adds. From my vantage point, with the Orioles focused on Davis but standing as a logical landing spot for either Upton or Cespedes, the argument could be made that Davis is slowing things down. Jeff Todd and I recently discussed as much on the MLBTR Podcast.

Jon Heyman tweets that as the starting pitching market continues to narrow, the Royals, Nationals, Astros and Rockies are the most likely landing spots for right-hander Ian Kennedy. However, MLB.com’s Thomas Harding feels differently, tweeting that if the Rockies make a rotation upgrade, it’s going to come via trade rather than a high-priced free agent like Kennedy. The Royals’ spacious park and elite outfield defense would seem, to me, to be an ideal fit for a fly-ball pitcher like Kennedy, while those same fly-ball tendencies and Kennedy’s previous home run troubles make him a poor fit at Coors Field.

In his daily Insider-only column (subscription required), ESPN’s Buster Olney writes that there’s a belief around the industry that the White Sox are open to outfield upgrades but don’t want to spend at the levels necessary to land Upton or Cespedes. A second-tier option makes more sense, Olney notes, and while he stops short of speculating on specific names, I’ll add that players such as Dexter Fowler and Austin Jackson could be fits for the South Siders. (Gerardo Parra, too, would’ve made sense but agreed to a three-year pact with the Rockies earlier today.)

While many Cardinals fans would like to see the Redbirds enter the market for Cespedes, Upton or another high-profile outfield bat, GM John Mozeliak told MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch that such a scenario isn’t likely. “I know that some people disagree and want us to do something else, but Matt Adams, having [Brandon] Moss, giving [Randal] Grichuk an opportunity to be the everyday center fielder feels right to us,” said Mozeliak. “If we go out and add an outfielder, where are they going to play? Who is not playing? How does that affect us? What does the short-term view look like compared to the long-term commitment? And honestly, we feel very comfortable with what we have.” Langosch writes that St. Louis has been watching the Upton, Cespedes, Fowler and Davis markets from the periphery but would only jump in if the price got to the point where the club felt the opportunity to add value was too good to pass up. Moss, according to Langosch, will get the chance to cement himself as primary option at first base.

Cespedes hold up is about the amount of money he is demanding. Similar to Chris Davis, they both are seeking $150MM
As a white sox fan I will flip out if they sign Dexter fowler. If we give up a comp pick which would be the one we acquired from San Fran when they signed shark. We essentially would have given up not only those players to Oakland but now the only return a draft pick in the top 32 will have me calling for Rick Hahn to get fired. White sox at this point are better off ponying up for cespedes or signing multiple players to add depth to the roster. Our depth is horrendous. claim players, be aggressive on international spending, and keep all draft picks. round out this years roster with signing a few back end of the rotation starting pitchers (preferably righties), add a veteran outfielder who can play above replacement level defense, add a couple utility guys, bring back Alexis to allow Anderson 1 more year of minor league development, and maybe another bullpen arm. Yes I’m aware that’s a ton, however we need way more than stated above. White sox approach is mind boggling, Maybe once Jerry sells the team we can see better results. It’s his fault that he allows KW and Ventura to stay in there positions with the team. He has a similar mess with the Chicago Bulls to. Anyone in Chicago can see his loyalty has made him blind. I’ll save that rant for another time.

Giving up a pick for Dexter Fowler would be so dumb for the Sox. If you’re serious about winning, open up the wallet Jerry. LaRoche and Danks are gone next year, which will free up a ton of money (and the next FA class is weak). Just make the first year very team friendly.

This is a business for him, you really think he wants to spend all his money just to try and appease the fan base? Any team in general is a business for the owners, they’re not going to spend left and right because the fans demand it. They should be doing everything possible to put the best team out there, but they also don’t want to be losing millions of dollars every year.

Mozeliak’s comments strike me as odd and probably disingenuous. Cards were one of the worst offensive teams in baseball last year, and lost Heyward from that team. Yeah, they could get better years from a few guys like Moss, but that’s no better than a mediocre offense right now, and the Cubs have shot right past them. And the clearly have the money.

Dont forget the success was based on a historical production from the pitching staff, which doesn’t include 2 of the starters and now includes 1 starter with a shoulder injury and another with an achilles injury. Asking the pitching staff to repeat what it did last year while ignoring the very stagnant and bad offense is asinine. Putting trust into an aging team with no power is not smart.

You guys are forgetting about all the guys returning from injury, though. Wainwright will replace a large chunk of what Lackey and Lynn provided last year, the bullpen has more late inning depth, and the offense is already much better than last year just by having a healthy Holliday, Grichuk, and Adams as well as a full year of Piscotty.

I’m sorry that Mo thinks that Moss and Adams will handle the power at 1st base. They were both disappointing at the least. Probably 25 HRs between them. The Great Mo entered FA market bragging about being buyers this year and they were spending. Well they lied to the STL fans. I hope it shows at the turnstiles.
Moss was a total failure and could hit his ass with either hand, then pay him $6million is an insult to a ball player. The phony concept for the fans about offensive improvement is now past and we will have to watch as run production falls off some more with the Punch and Judy power now.

The Cubs did not shoot anywhere past the Cards. They wasted money on a 37 year old starter who couldn’t pitch 200 innings for 5 years or so until his contract year, whose peripherals were far worse than his ERA and a guy who had a horrible year until mid season and is playing a position where his biggest asset is underutilized. The Cardinals will have Grichuk, Piscotty and Pham for a full season with Wong possibly improving and Waino back.

I agree with you priggs. Also how about someone that’s going to have people excited and go out and buy tickets to games and buy the jersey of. You think dexter Fowler is that person Kenny? No it’s one person and that’s cespedes. They keep saying they dont want to waste sale and Abreu in their primes, well how about spending some money and grab another guy that’s their prime? They played pocket pool instead of signing Alex Gordon, who I was not a fan of signing, but even he would have been way better then anyone left not named Upton and cespedes. Let’s not miss out on anyone else

So Open the checkbook and get the guy you know you really want and not the guy you will settle for. Cause when cespedes hits .280 with 33 and 107rbi they will be kicking themselves

WHEN..he hits .280 with 33 HR? You know last year was the first time he hit more than 30? You look at his 4 years of MLB service and you see you’re buying a mystery box. At least with Gordon you have a good idea of what you’re getting

Hearing that that the white sox are even considering Austin Jackson is so depressing to me. Less than average hitter who plays good defense, They should have a minor league system full of those types of OFs. Even Fowler is an average hitter, sox dont need average; Olney just crushed my hopes of a real outfielder.

Kennedy is a great fit in KC. IMO he goes to the Royals or Astros because both have deep farm systems (which would lessen the sting of losing a draft pick) and both need starting pitching. Kauffman Stadium is a much better fit for him than the Crawford Boxes in left at Minute Maid.

Maybe all this will just lead ATL to sign upton again move Loivera to 3rd Riley will b ready in a few seasons and u coild flip Markakis to Baltimore his 11 mil gone and there u go give upton 6 years 21 mil AAV. Mallex in center and Incrte in right what do u say

Braves are rebuliding, but I think 2017/2018 they should be more competitive. Upton will get at least 6 years, so signing him now isn’t a horrible idea. I’m curious to see what they do with Freeman, Teheran, et al. as moving Simmons seemed like a clear sign that they are punting in the short-term for more prospects.

It makes sense, in theory, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean the Braves would do it.

I was foolishly hoping for a move like this, since management said they wanted to be competitive in 2017, but now, with how things are shaping up, it is looking more like 2018 as being the year the Braves are going to be actual contenders again….

I agree, will probably be closer to ’18. But I think if you want to hang on to some of the bandwagon fans to fill Sun Trust, need to have one good name. That is all bandwagon fans want are names, not stats and potential.

It’s disappointing the Cardinals won’t add a starting outfielder, this is probably the last year I feel confidant they can win a WS before some sort of rebuilding occurs. Offer 1 of the top free agents 30-35 mill for 1 year, give it 1 last shot and reassess after the season.

Where would the newly signed OF play? There’s no room unless they make a trade, which seems unlikely given their current young guys’ potential and Holliday’s 2 remaining years on his contract.

And why the heck will they need to rebuild after this year? They have young guys plugged in and young guys developing, as well as FA options to replace expiring contracts within a couple of years. The only “old” players they have are Molina, Wainwright, and Holliday, all of whom still carry some value.

Did you forget Peralta? Holliday only has 1 yr remaining on his contract with a team option for 2017. And where would the new FA play. How about RF? Let Adams build his wealth back up in ST and then deal him before Opening Day. To have 2 left handed bats as your primary 1b is not a good idea

Holliday has 1 year remaining it’s up to the front office if they pick up the option and the general consensus is that they won’t, Grichuk, Wong and Piscotty are the only guys under 30 locked in to start if they go with Moss at 1st and although there is potential there the sample size is small. Pitching looks ok for the next 5 years but injury concerns and no Yadi is a big worry as he makes a pitcher 30% better when he’s catching. Let’s face facts the Cubs will dominate the division for the foreseeable future.

Yadi is 1 of my favourite all time players someone who is so mentally tough and proven but if you think his body can stand up to the workload after what he has given in the past your kidding yourself. His legacy is already set in stone and I predict he will be the next Cardinal manager taking Matheny’s job again.

I understand and for the most part support Mo’s stance with Moss getting the opportunity to cement himself at First Base but given the fact that the Cubs are the Favorite not only in the division but the league in its entirety why not sign Upton to a one year deal? What happens if Moss doesnt produce?Worst case scenario come trade deadline put a package together of Adam’s and 1 or 2 prospects and go for another big bat or big arm and put us in a position to not only win the division but take the Series. Make Upton a QO at the end of the year to secure a draft pick or he stays and no harm no foul. With Holliday, Molina, Moss and Wainwright close to the end of their careers give them an opportunity to go out on top and win another WS as teammates. They are a HUGE part of why we are who we are anyways. Your talking about a extra 20mil this year at most. Hell we win the WS and we would make that and some back easy.

The Cubs won’t be in the playoffs in 2016. Mark my words. Lackey had the best year of his career while way overperforming his peripherals, Heyward is wasted in CF, Schwarber will struggle defensively, Arrieta will take a step back as projected by estimating systems and so will Lackey.

Piscotty and Grichuk are arounf for a full season, and so is Waino. St. Louis will win the division. As far as favorites in the league, I think the Mets who swept the. may have a dofferent opinion to yours.

Mets, Cardinals, Giants, potentially Diamondbacks, Nationals, Pirates are all better than the Cubs and that’s just in the NL. I don’t mean to bash the Cubs but I’m tired of people seeing a few major names signed and claim they’re now the favorites. Last year people kept telling me the Red Sox were favorites because they signed Ramirez and Sandoval yet I knew all along they would miss the playoffs.

Oh p*** off White Sox. seriously? Just trade Sale, Quintana, Rodon, and Abreu now and play all youngsters making the minimum then. I can’t BELIEVE they won’t sign Cespedes but “might” give up a draft pick for Fowler? No way I sacrifice the 27th pick in the draft for Fowler. That better only happen if they get Upton. Austin jackson? Ugh. Just stop. Another 79-83 type season at best. Give me a break. They can’t offer Cespedes a 6/$150M with an opt-out at 2 or 3 years (or both)? Then both sides are happy. What a phenomenal waste of a once in a generation talent like Chris Sale.